GYM: NC State Posts Season-Best 196.050 in Sweetheart Invitational

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Raleigh, N.C. — The NC State gymnastics team posted a season-best score of 196.050 to finish first in the annual Sweetheart Invitational on Saturday inside the friendly confines of Reynolds Coliseum.

George Washington finished second with a score of 193.750, while UNC (193.650) finished third and William & Mary (192.650) finished fourth.

“I thought our performance tonight was probably the best of the year,” said head coach Mark Stevenson. “I thought we performed all four events the way we were supposed to. I was impressed with Stephanie [Ouellette] and Brittni [Watkins]. I think Stephanie getting healthier is a huge boost for our team and Brittni has performed well for us all season.”

The Wolfpack would start the meet on vault, where it would finish with a team total of 49.100. Sophomore Brittni Watkins would lead the squad with a score of 9.875 to finish first, while senior Hannah Fallanca would tie her career-best score with a 9.825. Seniors Diahanna Ham and Stephanie Ouellette, as well as freshman Amanda Fillard would score a 9.800 for the Pack. Freshman Courtney Bisbe would also finish the event with a score of 9.725. The Pack finished above a 49.000 for the fourth time this season.

State would next move to the uneven parallel bars, where the squad would post a season-best mark as a team of 48.875. Watkins would once again lead the squad with a career-best score of 9.875 to finish first, while Ouellette would finish second on the podium with a score of 9.825. Jarred would score a 9.775 for State, while Michaela Woodford would post a mark of 9.750.

At the midway point of the meet, State was in first-place with a score of 97.975. The Pack was followed by UNC (97.125) in second, as well as William & Mary (96.225) and George Washington (96.150).

NC State would next move to the balance beam, where Ouellette and Jarred would lead the squad with a score of 9.850 to tie for first place in the event. Ham would post a score of 9.825, while Kristen Harabedian’s routine earned a mark of 9.775 and Fallanca finished with a 9.750. As a team, State would finish with its second highest mark of the season on the apparatus with a 49.050.

The Pack would conclude the evening on the floor exercise, where Watkins would post a score of 9.900 for the third straight competition to lead the squad and finish first overall. Jarred would post a score of 9.850 on her routine to finish second on the podium, while Ouellette finished with a 9.825. Fallanca would finish her routine with a mark of 9.750, while Harabedian and Aubrey Hine would each post scores of 9.700. As a team, State would post a score of 49.025.

In the all-around competition, Ouellette would finish first overall with a score of 39.300, while Watkins finished third on the podium with a 39.225.

Up next, the Pack will travel to Pittsburgh, Pa., for a dual meet scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. The meet is set to be broadcast live on ESPN3.